EP1692993A1

EP1692993A1 - Dust collector for vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP1692993A1
Application number: EP05109323A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Myung Sig Yoo; Hae Seock Yang; Sang In Lee; Moo Hyon Koh; Jae Yong Park
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2005-02-17
Filing date: 2005-10-07
Publication date: 2006-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-07
Also published as: DE602005019024D1; KR100546623B1; EP1692993B1

Abstract

A dust collector (200) of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dust collector includes a dust collecting container (210) adapted to separate contaminants from air introduced into the dust collecting container (210), and to collect the separated contaminants. The dust collecting container includes an air discharging part (214b,215b) arranged at a top portion of the dust collecting container (210), a container cover (220) mounted to the top portion of the dust collecting container (210), and adapted to open or close the dust collecting container (210). The dust collector also includes a top cover (230) separably coupled with the container cover (220), and a filter (237) arranged between the container cover (220) and the top cover (230), and adapted to filter air discharged from the air discharging part (214b,215b), thereby separating contaminants entrained in the discharged air.

Description

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. P2005-013194, filed on February 17, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a dust collector of a vacuum cleaner which collects contaminants, utilizing the cyclone principle.

Discussion of the Related Art

A cyclone dust collector is an appliance which collects contaminants such as dust entrained in air, utilizing the cyclone principle. Such a cyclone dust collector may be applied to diverse fields, and is mainly applied to vacuum cleaners, for domestic purposes.
Recently, a multi-cyclone dust collector has been proposed, which includes a plurality of cyclones to achieve an enhancement in dust collecting performance.
Hereinafter, a conventional dust collector applied to a vacuum cleaner will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
The conventional dust collector includes a primary cyclone dust collecting part 10, which sucks dirt-laden air from the outside of the dust collector, and collects dust of a relatively large grain size from the sucked air. The dust collector also includes a secondary cyclone dust collecting part 20, which is connected to the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10, and collects dust of a relatively small grain size from the sucked air.
The primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 includes a cylindrical container having a lower end disposed to be in close contact with the bottom of the dust collector. The primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 also includes a first air inlet 11 formed through an upper portion of a peripheral wall of the cylindrical container at one side of the cylindrical container to receive dirt-laden air in a tangential direction, and a first air outlet 12 centrally formed through an upper end of the cylindrical container to discharge the air, which has been primarily cleaned.
Thus, the upper space of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 forms a primary cyclone 13 for performing separation of contaminants from dirt-laden air, using centrifugal force, whereas the lower space of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 forms a primary dust storage 14 for storing the centrifugally-separated contaminants.
The secondary cyclone dust collecting part 20 includes a plurality of small secondary cyclones 21 circumferentially arranged around the upper portion of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10, and a secondary dust storage 22 for storing dust separated in the secondary cyclones 21.
The secondary dust storage 22 is arranged beneath the secondary cyclones 21. The primary and secondary dust storages 14 and 22 are partitioned by the peripheral wall of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10.
Accordingly, air discharged from the first air outlet 12 is introduced into the secondary cyclone 21, and is upwardly discharged from the dust collector after being subjected to the secondary dust separation process.
In addition, a separate top cover (not shown) is mounted to the top of the above-mentioned conventional dust collector. A dust collector handle is provided at the top cover to allow the user to easily perform assembly and disassembly of the dust collector.
In the conventional dust collector having the above-mentioned configuration, however, there is a problem in that the coupling structure of the top cover is complex, thereby causing an inconvenience in use of the dust collector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dust collector of a vacuum cleaner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a dust collector of a vacuum cleaner which has a simple coupling structure, and is convenient in use.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dust collector of a vacuum cleaner comprises: a dust collecting container adapted to separate contaminants from air introduced into the dust collecting container, and to collect the separated contaminants, the dust collecting container including an air discharging part arranged at a top portion of the dust collecting container; a container cover mounted to the top portion of the dust collecting container, and adapted to open or close the dust collecting container; a top cover separably coupled with the container cover; and a filter arranged between the container cover and the top cover, and adapted to filter air discharged from the air discharging part, thereby separating contaminants entrained in the discharged air.
One of the dust collecting cover and the top cover may include at least one protrusion having a predetermined shape, and the other one of the dust collecting cover and the top cover may include at least one engagement groove corresponding to the at least one protrusion.
The protrusion and the engagement groove may be coupled when the protrusion and the engagement groove are moved with respect to each other in a circumferential direction of the container cover.
The protrusion may be formed at an outer peripheral surface of the container cover, and may include a first protrusion portion extending in the circumferential direction of the container cover, a second protrusion portion extending from the first protrusion portion at a predetermined angle, and a locking protrusion portion for limiting rotation of the top cover.
Specifically, the locking protrusion portion may be arranged in a space defined between the first protrusion portion and the second protrusion portion.
The engagement groove may include an insertion groove portion, through which the protrusion is inserted into the engagement groove, a rotation guide for guiding the inserted protrusion to move in a circumferential direction of the top cover, and a locking groove portion, which is engagable with the locking protrusion portion.
The at least one protrusion may comprise a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from one another, and at least one of spacings between adjacent ones of the protrusions is different from the remaining spacings.
The dust collector may further comprise an alignment indicator adapted to indicate coupling directions when the top cover is coupled with the container cover.
The alignment indicator may comprise a first alignment mark provided at a lower portion of the top cover, and a second alignment mark corresponding to the first alignment mark, the second alignment mark being provided at one of the dust collecting container and the container cover.
The second alignment mark may be arranged at an extension extending downward from a peripheral edge of the container cover.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating a conventional dust collector;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is separated from a cleaner body;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an exploded state of the dust collector according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating the dust collector according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dust collector according to the embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state before coupling of a top cover; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dust collector according to the embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state after coupling of the top cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Hereinafter, a vacuum cleaner, in which a dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated, will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle (not shown) which sucks air containing contaminants while moving along a floor to be cleaned, a cleaner body 100 which is separate from the suction nozzle, and a connecting hose (not shown) which connects the suction nozzle and cleaner body 100, and guides dirt-laden air sucked through the suction nozzle to the cleaner body 100.
A suction inlet having a certain size is formed at the bottom of the suction nozzle to suck air containing contaminants including dust. The suction of air through the nozzle suction inlet is achieved by a suction force generated from an air sucking device disposed in the cleaner body 100.
In the cleaner body 100, electronic elements (not shown) adapted to control the vacuum cleaner, and a fan-motor assembly (not shown) constituting the air sucking device are disposed.
In detail, a hose connector 110, to which the connecting hose is connected, is provided at a front upper portion of the cleaner body 100. Wheels 120 are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of a rear portion of the cleaner body 100, respectively, to enable the cleaner body 100 to smoothly move on a floor. A freely rotatable caster (not shown) is mounted to a front portion of the bottom of the cleaner body 100 to enable the cleaner body 100 to freely change the movement direction thereof.
Meanwhile, a dust collector 200 is separably mounted to the cleaner body 100. The dust collector 200 functions to separate contaminants from air sucked into the interior of the dust collector 200 via the suction nozzle and connecting hose, and to collect the separated contaminants.
The air, which emerges from the dust collector 200, is outwardly discharged from the rear portion of the cleaner body 100 after passing through a certain flow path defined in the cleaner body 100 and the fan-motor assembly (not shown).
The dust collector 200 of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 3 and 4.
The dust collector 200 includes a dust collecting container 210 having a dust separating part for separating contaminants from air introduced into the dust collecting container 210, and a dust storing part for collecting the contaminants separated by the dust separating part, and a top cover 230 separably coupled to the dust collecting container 210.
In detail, the dust collecting container includes primary and secondary dust collecting parts for collecting contaminants such as dust. The dust collecting container 210 also includes a bottom panel 211 which constitutes the bottom of the dust collecting container 210.
The primary dust collecting part includes a primary dust separating section, and a primary dust storing section 212 for storing dust separated by the primary dust separating section. The primary dust collecting part is constituted by a substantially cylindrical container arranged in the dust collecting container 210.
The secondary dust collecting part is arranged around the primary dust collecting part. The secondary dust collecting part includes a secondary dust separating section for separating contaminants entrained in air discharged from the primary dust collecting part, and a secondary dust storing section 213 for storing the dust separated by the second dust separating section.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, each of the primary and secondary dust separating sections includes a primary cyclone 214 and a plurality of small secondary cyclones 215, which perform separation of contaminants in a cyclone manner.
Specifically, the primary cyclone 214 has a downwardly-opened cylindrical container shape. A first suction port 214a is formed through an upper portion of the primary cyclone 214 at one side of the primary cyclone 214. The first suction inlet 214a communicates with the hose connector 110 (FIG. 2). A first discharge port 214b is formed through the top of the primary cyclone 214 such that the first discharge port 214b extends vertically.
The first suction port 214a guides dirt-laden air introduced into the outside of the dust collector to flow in a tangential direction of the primary cyclone 214 so that the air entering the first suction port 214a flows spirally along an inner wall surface of the primary cyclone 214.
The small secondary cyclones 215 are arranged at the upper portion of the primary cyclone 214, and have peripheral walls formed integrally with a peripheral wall of the dust collecting container 210, respectively. In particular, the secondary cyclones 215 are circumferentially arranged around the upper portion of the primary cyclone 214. Each secondary cyclone 215 has an upper end upwardly protruded to a level higher than that of the upper end of the primary cyclone 214.
The peripheral wall of each secondary cyclone 215 is vertically cut out at a region where the peripheral wall is upwardly protruded above the upper end of the primary cyclone 214, thereby forming a second suction port 215a communicating with the first discharge port 214b. The second suction port 215a of each secondary cyclone 215 guides air emerging from the first discharge port 214b to flow in a tangential direction of the secondary cyclone 215 so that the air entering the second suction port 215a flows spirally along an inner wall surface of the secondary cyclone 215.
Each secondary cyclone 215 also has a conical portion 215d formed at a lower portion of the secondary cyclone 215 such that the conical portion 215d has a diameter gradually reduced as the conical portion 215d extends toward the bottom of the dust collecting container 210. A contaminants discharge port 215e is formed at a lower end of each secondary cyclone 215 to downwardly discharge contaminants such as dust.
The secondary cyclones 215 have an integrated structure such that adjacent ones of the secondary cyclones 215 are in contact with each other to prevent air from being leaked between the adjacent secondary cyclones 215. The dust collecting container 210 may further include a container cover 220 mounted to the upper end of the dust collecting container 210 to open or close the upper ends of the secondary cyclones 215. The container cover 220 more smoothly guides air emerging from the first discharge port 214b to the secondary cyclones 215. Second discharge ports 215b are formed at the container cover 220 along the peripheral portion of the container cover 220 to discharge air from the secondary cyclones 215, respectively.
Dust separated in the primary cyclone 214 and second cyclones 215, which have the above-described configurations, respectively, is stored in the dust storing part defined by the peripheral wall of the dust collecting container 210 and the bottom panel 211. The stored dust is subsequently outwardly discharged by virtue of gravity when the bottom panel 211 is opened.
The dust storing part is constituted by the primary dust storing section 212 and secondary dust storing section 213. The primary dust storing section 212 stores dust separated by the primary cyclone 214, and the secondary dust storing section 213 stores dust separated by the secondary cyclones 215.
The primary dist storing section 212 and secondary dust storing sections 213 are partitioned by a substantially cylindrical boundary wall 216, which is integrally connected to the lower ends of the secondary cyclones 215, and has a diameter smaller than that of the peripheral wall of the dust collecting container 210.
The boundary wall 216 has a lower end extending downward to the bottom of the dust collecting container 210, that is, the upper surface of the bottom panel 211, beyond the lower end of the primary cyclone 214. Accordingly, the boundary wall 216 prevents the primary and secondary dust storing sections 212 and 213 from communicating with each other.
It is preferred that the boundary wall 216 have a circumferentially corrugated shape, in order to prevent the dust stored in the primary dust storing section 212 from floating due to a spiral air flow formed in the primary cyclone 214.
In addition to the above-described configuration, the dust collector according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention further includes a discharge member 217 arranged in the primary cyclone 214 such that the discharge member 217 extends vertically. A plurality of holes are formed at a peripheral wall of the discharge member 217, in order to allow the discharge member 217 to communicate with the first discharge port 214b of the primary cyclone 214. The dust collector also includes a guide rib 218 provided at the primary cyclone 214, and adapted to guide air entering the first suction port 214a.
It is preferred that the discharge member 217 be centrally arranged in the primary cyclone 214, extend axially through the primary cyclone 214, and have a substantially conical structure having an opened upper end and a closed lower end while having a diameter gradually reduced as the discharge member 217 extends downward. When the discharge member 217 has such a structure, it is possible to prevent dust moving downward along the inner peripheral wall surface of the primary cyclone 214 from being influenced by a suction force exerted in the discharge member 217, because the velocity of the spiral air flow in the primary cyclone 214 is gradually reduced toward the lower end of the primary cyclone 214.
The upper end of the discharge member 217 is separably coupled with the peripheral edge of the first discharge port 214b. An annular sealing member, which provides a sealing effect, is interposed between the upper end of the discharge member 217 and the first discharge port 214b.
A floatation prevention member 219 may also be mounted to the lower end of the discharge member 217, in order to prevent dust stored in the primary dust storing section 212 from floating. The floatation prevention member 219 prevents the dust collected in the primary dust storing section 212 from rising due to the spiral air flow, and thus, from entering the secondary cyclones 215.
For such a function, it is preferred that the floatation prevention member 219 have a radially-extending structure formed integrally with the lower end of the discharge member 217. It is also preferred that the floatation prevention member 219 has a downwardly-inclined upper surface. Specifically, the floatation prevention member 219 has a conical structure having a diameter gradually increased as the floatation prevention member 219 extends downward.
The guide rib 218 guides air entering the first suction port 214a to flow in a direction tangential to the inner peripheral wall surface of the primary cyclone 214. That is, the guide rib 218 prevents the air entering the first suction port 214a from being directly introduced into the discharge member 217.
Meanwhile, the top cover 230 includes a cover housing 235 provided with a dust collector handle 231 adapted to enable the user to carry the dust collector, and a filter housing 236 disposed in the cover housing 235. The top cover 230 is separably coupled to the container cover 220. This configuration will be described in detail hereinafter.
Operation of the vacuum cleaner, in which the dust collector according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is incorporated, will now be described.
When the vacuum cleaner operates, dirt-laden ambient air is first introduced into the primary cyclone 214 via the suction nozzle (not shown) and connecting hose (not shown). The air introduced into the primary cyclone 214 is guided by the guide rib 218 to flow in a direction tangential to the inner peripheral surface of the primary cyclone 214 without being directly introduced into the discharge member 217, thereby forming a spiral flow.
As a result, relatively heavy and large dust is separated from the air in accordance with the cyclone principle, and is then stored in the primary dust storing section 212 after falling downward. The dust stored in the primary dust storing section 212 is prevented from floating in accordance with the functions of the floatation prevention member 219 and corrugated boundary wall 216.
The air, from which relatively heavy and large dust has been separated, is discharged from the primary cyclone 214 through the first discharge port 214b communicating with the holes formed at the peripheral wall of the discharge member 217. The air is then introduced into the secondary cyclones 215 so that the air is again subjected to a dust separation process, in order to separate relatively light and fine dust from the air.
The air, from which relatively light and fine dust has been separated in the secondary cyclones 215, is introduced into the interior of the top cover 230 through the second discharge ports 215b. The air introduced into the interior of the top cover 230 is filtered by the filter 237, and is then rearwardly discharged through a cover discharge port 233 formed at the top cover 230. The air emerging from the cover discharge port 233 is outwardly discharged from the cleaner body 100 after moving along a predetermined flow path defined in a rear portion of the cleaner body 100.
Hereinafter, the structures of the top cover and container cover will be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 5 and 6. As described above, the dust collecting container 210 includes a dust separating part for separating contaminants from air introduced into the dust collecting container 210, and a dust storing part for collecting the contaminants separated by the dust separating part. Also, the container cover 220 is mounted to the upper end of the dust collecting container 210 to open or close the dust collecting container 210. The top cover 230 is separably coupled to the top portion of the container cover 220. Alignment marks 228 and 238 are provided at the container cover 220 and top cover 230 respectively to indicate coupling directions of the container cover 220 and top cover 230, when the container cover 220 and top cover 230 are to be coupled.
As described above, the dust collecting container 210 also includes the first suction port 214a, through which air containing contaminants is sucked, and the bottom panel 211, which constitutes the bottom of the dust collecting container 210. An openlng/closing device 213 is mounted to the peripheral wall of the dust collecting container 210 to open or close the bottom panel 211, and thus, the bottom of the dust collecting container 210.
Protrusions 222 having a predetermined shape are formed at the outer peripheral surface of the container cover 220. Engagement grooves 232 corresponding to the protrusions 222 are formed at the inner peripheral surface of the top cover 230. Of course, the protrusions 222 may be formed at the top cover 230, and the engagement grooves 232 may be formed at the container cover 220. The alignment mark 228 is provided at an extension extending downward from a lower peripheral edge of the container cover 220. As described above, the alignment mark 228 informs the user of the coupling direction of the container cover 220, when the container cover 220 and top cover 230 are to be coupled.
Each protrusion 222 includes a first protrusion portion 222a extending to a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the container cover 220, a second protrusion portion 222b extending from the first protrusion portion 222a at a predetermined angle, and a locking protrusion portion 222c for limiting rotation of the top cover 230.
Although the container cover 220 has been described as including several protrusions 222, at least one protrusion 222 may be provided. Where several protrusions 222 are provided, it is preferred that at least one of the spacings between adjacent ones of the protrusions 222 be different from the remaining spacings. Preferably, three protrusions 222 are provided at the container cover 220. In this case, it is preferred that the spacings of the protrusions 222 in the circumferential direction of the container cover 220 be 110°, 110°, and 140°, respectively.
When one of the spacings between adjacent ones of the protrusions 222 is different from the remaining spacings, as above, the positioning of the top cover 230 for the coupling of the container cover 220 and top cover 230 can be easily achieved. Of course, the spacings between adjacent ones of the protrusions 222 are optional.
Preferably, the locking protrusion portion 222c is arranged in a space defined between the first and second protrusion portions 222a and 222b. Also, the angle formed between the first and second protrusion portions 222a and 222b is preferably 90°. In addition, it is preferred that the locking protrusion portion 222c is inclined toward one side thereof at a predetermined angle. In accordance with such a structure of the locking protrusion portion 222c, it is possible to easily achieve engagement of the locking protrusion portion 222c when the associated protrusion 222 is moved in the circumferential direction of the top cover 230 after being inserted into the associated engagement groove 232.
The top cover 230 includes the filter housing 236, in which the filter 237 is received. The top cover 230 also includes the cover housing 235, which is arranged outside the filter housing 236 to form the appearance of the top cover 230.
The filter housing 236 includes a filter housing discharge member 236c for discharging air emerging from the filter 237. A cover discharge port housing 233a is formed on the filter housing discharge member 236c at one side of the filter housing discharge portion 236c. Through the cover discharge port housing 233a, the air emerging from the filter housing discharge member 236c is outwardly discharged.
It is preferred that the filter housing discharge member 236c be inclined at a certain angle. Specifically, it is preferred that the filter housing discharge member 236c be downwardly inclined toward the cover discharge port housing 233a. In accordance with such a structure, the filter 237 can obtain an increased filtering efficiency while occupying a minimal space in the filter housing 236.
The engagement grooves 232, which have a predetermined shape, are formed at the inner peripheral surface of the filter housing 236. Also, reinforcing grooves 239 are formed at the inner peripheral surface of the top cover 230 to provide a desired strength to the filter housing 236. The alignment mark 238 is provided at the outer peripheral surface of the filter housing 236. As described above, the alignment mark 238 informs the user of the coupling direction of the top cover 230, when the container cover 220 and top cover 230 are to be coupled. The alignment mark 238 corresponds to the alignment mark 228 provided at the container cover 220. Although one alignment mark 238 is provided in the illustrated case, at least one alignment mark 238 may be provided. Also, the alignment mark 228 may be provided at the dust collecting container, in pace of the container cover.
The engagement grooves 232 cooperate with the protrusions 222 formed at the outer peripheral surface of the container cover 220 to enable the top cover 230 to be separably coupled with the container cover 220. Each engagement groove 232 includes an insertion groove portion 232a, through which the associated protrusion 222 of the container cover 220 is inserted into the engagement groove 232, a rotation guide 232b for guiding the inserted protrusion 222 to move in the circumferential direction of the top cover 230, and an locking groove portion 232c corresponding to the locking protrusion portion 222c of the associated protrusion 222.
In order to enable easy insertion of the protrusion 222 of the container cover 220 into the engagement groove 232, the insertion groove portion 232a has a length longer than the first protrusion portion 222a of the protrusion 222 extending in the circumferential direction of the container cover 220. Also, the rotation guide 232b has a first portion extending from the insertion groove portion 232a in parallel to the insertion groove portion 232a, and a second portion extending from the first portion of the rotation guide 232a in a direction perpendicular to the insertion groove portion 232a.
The rotation guide 232b extends along the inner peripheral surface of the filter housing 236 to a length longer than that of the insertion groove 232a. The locking groove portion 232c is formed at a predetermined position on the rotation guide 232b, and has an inclination corresponding to the inclination of the locking protrusion portion 222c. A reinforcing groove 239 is formed at the inner peripheral surface of the filter housing 236 beneath each engagement groove 232. The reinforcing groove 239 enables the top cover 230 to have a constant thickness, and thus, to have an increased strength. Of course, the provision of the reinforcing grooves 239 is optional.
The procedure for assembling the dust collector according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGs. 2 to 6. As described above, the dust collector includes the dust collecting container 210, which separates dust from air, and collects the separated dust, the container cover 220, which is mounted to the top of the dust collecting container 210, and the top cover 230, which is separably coupled with the container cover 220.
Hereinafter, the procedure for assembling the dust collector including the above-described elements will be described. First, the user inserts, into the dust collecting container 210, the floatation prevention member 219 adapted to prevent the stored dust from floating, together with the discharge member 217 coupled to the floatation prevention member 219. Thereafter, the user couples the container cover 220, which is adapted to open or close the dust collecting container 210, to the top of the dust collecting container 210. In this case, the dust collecting container 210 and container cover 220 are fastened to each other by means of screws, in order to prevent the dust collecting container 210 and container cover 220 from being separated from each other due to vibrations of the vacuum cleaner.
The user then couples the top cover 230 to the top of the container cover 220. At this time, the coupling is carried out under the condition in which the alignment mark 228 formed at the container cover 220 and the alignment mark 238 formed at the top cover 230 are aligned with each other.
Next, the user presses the top cover 230 such that the protrusions 222 of the container cover 220 are inserted into the engagement grooves 232 of the top cover 230. Subsequently, the user rotates the container cover 220 and top cover 230 with respect to each other such that each protrusion 222 moves circumferentially in the associated engagement groove 232. When the locking protrusion portion 222c of each protrusion 222 reaches the locking groove portion 232c of the associated engagement groove 232 in accordance with the relative movement of the protrusion 222 and engagement groove 232, the user further forcibly rotates the container cover 220 and top cover 230 with respect to each other such that each locking protrusion portion 222c is engaged with the associated locking groove portion 232c.
In the completely-assembled dust collector, the alignment mark 228 of the container cover 220 and the alignment mark 238 of the top cover 230 are positioned in a state of being spaced apart from each other by a certain distance without being aligned with each other, as shown in FIG. 6.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The above-described dust collector of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention has various effects.
That is, first, in accordance with the present invention, there is an advantage in that it is possible to easily achieve replacement of the filter because the top cover and container cover are separably coupled.
Second, in accordance with the present invention, there are advantages of a simple coupling structure and a convenience in use because the top cover and container cover can be coupled in accordance with a simple rotating operation by virtue of the engagement grooves and protrusions respectively formed at the top cover and container cover.

Claims

A dust collector (200) of a vacuum cleaner comprising:
a dust collecting container (210) adapted to separate contaminants from air introduced into the dust collecting container (210), and to collect the separated contaminants, the dust collecting container (210) including an air discharging part (214b,215b) arranged at a top portion of the dust collecting container (210);

a container cover (220) mounted to the top portion of the dust collecting container (210), and adapted to open or close the dust collecting container (210);

a top cover (230) separably coupled with the container cover (220); and

a filter (237) arranged between the container cover (220) and the top cover (230), and adapted to filter air discharged from the air discharging part (214b,215b), thereby separating contaminants entrained in the discharged air.
The dust collector according to claim 1, wherein one of the container cover (220) and the top cover (230) includes at least one protrusion (222) having a predetermined shape, and the other one of the container cover (220) and the top cover (230) includes at least one engagement groove (232) corresponding to the at least one protrusion (222).
The dust collector according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion (222) and the engagement groove (232) are coupled when the protrusion (222) and the engagement groove (232) are moved with respect to each other in a circumferential direction of the container cover (220).
The dust collector according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion (222) is formed at an outer peripheral surface of the container cover (220), and includes a first protrusion portion extending in the circumferential direction of the container cover (220), a second protrusion portion extending from the first protrusion portion at a predetermined angle, and an locking protrusion portion for limiting rotation of the top cover (230).
The dust collector according to claim 4, wherein the locking protrusion portion is arranged in a space defined between the first protrusion portion and the second protrusion portion.
The dust collector according to claim 4, wherein the engagement groove (232) includes an insertion groove portion, through which the protrusion is inserted into the engagement groove, a rotation guide for guiding the inserted protrusion to move in a circumferential direction of the top cover (230), and a locking groove portion, which is engageable with the locking protrusion portion.
The dust collector according to claim 2, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions (222) spaced apart from one another, and at least one of spacings between adjacent ones of the protrusions (222) is different from the remaining spacings.
The dust collector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an alignment indicator adapted to indicate coupling directions when the top cover (230) is coupled with the container cover (220).
The dust collector according to claim 8, wherein the alignment indicator comprises a first alignment mark (238) provided at a lower portion of the top cover (230), and a second alignment mark (228) corresponding to the first alignment mark, the second alignment mark (228) being provided at one of the dust collecting container (210) and the container cover (220).
The dust collector according to claim 9, wherein the second alignment mark (228) is arranged at an extension extending downward from a peripheral edge of the container cover (220).